230

I pulled open the front door just as Chandra reached to open it. She narrowed her eyes at me and in that moment it didn’t bother me. I was the old Wynter now, the one that never got hurt. I walked past her to the sidewalk and grabbed the dustbin that I hadn’t brought in from the street the previous day.

“You are full of secrets, Wynter Grey.”

“I take it she told you.”

Chandra and I stood in the driveway, facing each other, knowing she’d ask but not sure if I’d answer. “You could have confided in me, you know.”

“What would’ve been the point?”

“Why did you want them to think you were dead?” Her eyes searched mine but found nothing and that both shocked and scared Chandra.

“I didn’t. I changed my name to get away from Romania and everything that was expected of me there. I didn’t know they thought I was dead.”

“And Alexis? You love her, right?”

“Loved. I don’t anymore.” I didn’t want to have this conversation with her but the truth was, she was my best friend and she deserved answers to her questions.

She and Lauren had accepted me just as I was, didn’t try to change one thing about me. They loved Riley and I couldn’t ask for more than that but they gave me more in any way. We became family and I cared about them.

I turned towards the street, a prickly feeling running across my scalp as the air changed. Chandra noticed it too and as the vampire blurred down the street she put up a vibrant blue shield in front of us that knocked the man back about twenty feet.

“What in the damned hell is that?” Milo looked offended as he walked closer to the wall and briefly touched it as electricity sparked and he jerked his hand away. “Who the hell are you?”

“I’m his best friend, who the hell are you?” Chandra didn’t mince her words and I still couldn’t believe that Milo was right there.

“Best friend? I’m his best friend.”

A black SUV turned onto the street and the hair on my arms stood up as a familiar shiver went through me. “Who the hell is that, Wynter?”

“My father.”

The SUV pulled to a stop and all four doors opened at the same time. Abby climbed out with a small boy on her hip, probably around two or so. I saw Shae next and Echo’s tail started thumping up and down again as he separated from me.

Nova moved first and walked right through the shield and flung herself at me as Ryder climbed out last. “Oh, Wynter. I’ve missed you so much.” She was crying and I hugged her back as I closed my eyes.

“Why can’t I walk through this damn thing, woman?” Milo glared at Chandra and she looked at me.

“Do I lower it or blast him another twenty feet?”

I smiled as she grinned and lowered the wall. I put Nova down on her feet as she wiped her eyes and punched my arm. Before I could take another breath Milo had me off my feet as he crushed my ribs and his shoulders shook.

“I’m so sorry, brother. I never meant to leave you.”

Chusi had separated from Shae too as she ran from the car and at the last moment I pushed Milo aside as she closed her eyes and just jumped, knowing I’d catch her. “Wynterkins! Don’t you ever die on me again!”

I hugged her tightly as her legs wrapped around my waist and her tears smeared against my neck. “I missed you too, wild child.”

I noticed then that Milo wore a wedding band and Abby had a ring on her finger too. She reached me and Milo took the boy from her as we hugged and she started crying. We stood like that for a long time as Ryder remained standing next to the SUV.

“Who’s the little guy?” She smiled as she pulled away slightly and looked at me with tears streaking her cheeks.

“This is Luke Autumn Grey.”

“Autumn huh? Poor kid will need to be tough with a name like that.” Abby laughed as Milo snorted.

“He’s mine, of course he’ll be tough. I even got him his own apron and shower cap.” It almost felt like things between me and Milo had never changed but I knew that they had and I didn’t return his smile.

Ryder hadn’t moved and I had no idea what was going through his mind as I walked past everyone and moved towards him and the SUV. I stopped a few feet away and looked at my father, who hadn’t changed at all.

“Ryder.”

I saw the tears pool in his eyes and then he reached out and pulled me against him as his arms enveloped me and I could feel the hammering of his heart against my chest. His hands gripped the back of my t-shirt and his shoulders shook as he cried.

My hands gripped his jacket as well and I lowered my head to his shoulder as every defense I had broke down and emotion overtook me. I had missed him so much and as I breathed in his scent I knew I’d been kidding myself with my resolution the previous night.

“Don’t tell me you knocked that woman up too.” Laughter bubbled up from inside as we let go and Ryder smiled at me and finally let go.

“She’s involved … with a very beautiful woman named Lauren.”

“I’m not going to say what I’m thinking of saying, but don’t tell Milo that.”

“Daddy?”

We turned at the same time as Riley stood by the front door and looked at all the people in our driveway. Ryder’s breath hitched in his throat as he looked at her. “Riley…”

The slight breeze moved her hair and as Ryder took a step forward Echo went to stand in front of her, blocking her from view and he roared at Ryder. His eyes flashed yellow and Riley moved to Echo’s side, her eyes also flashing yellow.

“Naughty Echo.” He lowered his head almost as if in shame as Ryder blinked and walked towards her.

He knelt down in front of her, both of their eyes flashing yellow as their foreheads touched and it seemed like a bond was forming there. Riley looked up at Ryder and smiled, her hand touching his face. “Grandpa.”

He wrapped his large frame around her smaller one and stood up as he hugged her and when he turned I saw that he was crying again. There were too many emotions for me to deal with and I saw Ally disappear back into Chandra’s house.

We were all in the living room now and Ryder still hadn’t let go of Riley. She seemed happy on his lap as she openly stared at everyone. Chandra had just given me a smile and closed her front door behind her, giving us the privacy we needed.

The silence seemed awkward after I’d made coffee and Abby had helped me carry the cups to the living room. The front door opened and Ally stepped inside and sat down next to Abby, across from me. It seemed like a family meeting was about to happen.

“We felt you die, Wynter.” Abby was the first one to speak up.

“I didn’t know that.”

“Tell us what happened, please. We know what happened up to where you killed Florin.” Nova’s eyes were pleading with mine and I shifted in my seat.

“When I got back to Mintia I realized that I couldn’t raise Riley there. I couldn’t subject her to that kind of life because if I’d stayed then the responsibility to look after everyone else would always be there and inadvertently she’d come second. I couldn’t do that and be the father I promised Luce I’d be.”

“How did you get the bonds to snap and why?” The question came from Ryder and there was a hint of anger in his voice.

“Typhon told me that he’d grant me one wish. I asked him to sever all my blood bonds so the responsibility of being Duke would be gone. I didn’t know you’d all think I was dead.”

“So you moved to Chehalis of all places and just assumed we wanted nothing to do with you? You could’ve come home, Wynter, with Riley.”

“The last time we spoke you made it pretty clear that I wasn’t a part of your family any more. I did what I had to do for my daughter. I won’t apologize for that.”

“I’m sorry you felt that way Wynter. I let my anger get the better of me but I never intended for you to feel that you were alone in everything. When I finally saw the footage and I heard what Maya had done I tried to call you but your phone was already disconnected.”

“You didn’t contact me for months afterwards.” Anger slowly started to simmer inside me and I knew I had to control it or we’d come to blows once again and I was way past the point of holding back against my father.

“Because I thought you’d lost your mind! Wynter, you’d veered off from the plan, what else was I supposed to think? I warned you of getting too close to the King yet you got so close that he pulled you in. You married his daughter for crying out loud!”

“I did everything that was expected of me. Typhon said the time wasn’t right, so I waited. I kept Abigail safe and apart from that one thing where she wasn’t actually harmed, nothing happened to her. I made sure of it! I took everything you gave that day. I won’t hold back again. My son died and I had nobody to turn to!”

“I’m sorry about August and I’m sorry that I didn’t know.”

My whole body was shaking and I hadn’t even realized that I had stood up or that I was yelling. My eyes flashed yellow and Ryder slowly lifted Riley from his lap, placing her on Nova’s lap and stood up and gripped me by the shoulders.

“I’m not losing you again, Wynter. It doesn’t matter who was wrong or who was right. I’m not going to argue with you and I’m not going to lose my temper about things that are in the past. You’re my son and you’re alive, Riley’s safe and I don’t want you to apologize for doing what you thought was right.”

He didn’t wait for me to answer him but pulled me in for another hug and slapped me on the back. We stood like that for a few minutes until he released me and looked me in the eye. “Okay?”

“Okay, Dad.”

“Good then we can discuss when you’re coming back home.”

Nova gave Ryder a look as Riley got off her lap and walked up to me. I picked her up as she placed both of her hands on my face. Her eyes glowed yellow and I felt her dragon reach out to Echo. Her closeness calmed me and when I opened my eyes she smiled. “For me, Daddy.”

I understood what she meant even if they didn’t. We’d always had a special connection and she was asking me to let the past go, to let go of Luciana and let her rest in peace, to forgive my family and to forgive myself.

“When did she merge?” Nova had sensed the flow between us and even Ally’s eyes flashed between blue and silver.

“She didn’t, she was born with her dragon. Scared the crap out of me when her dragon started to appear three days after her birth.”

Ryder gave Ally a look and she shook her head. “That’s incredible, Wynter, and I have to say you really are a very good father. She’s just precious.”

“I’ve had help. Chandra and Lauren gives her the feminine rounding she needs.”

“Right, your new best friend.” Milo’s tone was sour and he looked offended that someone else would call themselves my best friend.

“You’re not going to move back home are you?” Nova looked at me with understanding in her eyes like she’d already figured this all out.

“This is my home now. Riley’s roots are here and we have a good life.”

We had another round of coffee as they told me about their lives and what I’d missed in the past three years. I laughed for the first time when Ryder told me abut Shae’s first date and how the boy never talked to her after that one night when Ryder had followed them out.

“We should get going, get booked into a hotel in town.”

“I have room, Dad, if Milo and Abby doesn’t mind Springtime to sleep with them, that is.”

“Yeah there’s my boy underneath everything. Call my son Springtime once more and we can have a go at it in the back.”

“I don’t know if Abby has enough blood for you to feed on with all the bleeding you’ll be doing.” Milo laughed and stood up, hugging me.